Army approves new Close Combat Badge

[freeandfun1]

Army approves new Close Combat Badge

I am normally a guy that doesn't like to mess with tradition, but I think this is a good move. There was a time when wearing a CIB or CFMB really did set those that had engaged in combat apart from "rear-echelon" units. Nowadays, more and more non-Infantry MOS's are engaging in close combat, so if this helps moral, why not? They deserve some king of recognition too.

The Army has approved a new combat badge for soldiers who fight like grunts but don’t qualify for the prestigious wreathed rifle decoration known as the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Dubbed the Close Combat Badge, the new award “will provide special recognition to ground combat arms soldiers” trained and deployed as infantry, who engage in direct combat with the enemy, according to a Feb. 11 Army press release .

In March, the Army expects to release an administrative message outlining exact rules and regulations, the release said.

The CCB should be available this fall through unit supply and also for purchase in military clothing sales stores, the release said.

The effort is the result of a long-standing debate rekindled by the war in Iraq over how soldiers should be recognized for combat duty.

All soldiers who serve in combat theater, for 30 days or longer, are authorized to wear their unit patch on their right shoulder as a combat patch. But since World War II, infantrymen, and later Special Forces soldiers, have been the only combat arms soldiers recognized with an award for fighting the enemy at close range.

The Army has turned down similar proposals for combat badges in the past, but requests from field commanders in theater prompted senior leadership to change its mind.

“The Army will award the CCB to armor, cavalry, combat engineer, and field artillery soldiers in military occupational specialties or corresponding officer branch/specialties recognized as having a high probability to routinely engage in direct combat,” the release said.

“They must be assigned or attached to an Army unit of brigade or below that is purposefully organized to routinely conduct close combat operations and engage in direct combat,” the release said.

“The CCB will be presented only to eligible soldiers who are personally present and under fire while engaged in active ground combat, to close with and destroy the enemy with direct fires.”

 

[gaffer]

Its only fair that troops that are in combat, even when they aren't suppose to be, should get some special designation.

I wonder what the actual criteria will be, x number of hours under fire or in combat conditions? The CIB criteria has changed over the years. But its still a prestigous badge to wear.

Is there any picture of it available?